Auckland retirement village marks 'very different' Anzac Day with small, but proud gathering

•
Source:
1 NEWS

Residents at Settler's Lifestyle Village in Albany, Auckland, marked a "very different" Anzac Day this morning.

Your playlist will load after this ad

John Wakelin read the poem at the gate of Settlers Lifestyle Village in Albany.
Source: 1 NEWS

Usually a couple of hundred of the village's 340 residents turn out to commemorate the fallen soldiers of war, but this year due to the Covid-19 lockdown April 25 commemorations were unlike any other year.

Your playlist will load after this ad

The changes we've been forced to make pay tribute to families who made much greater sacrifices.
Source: 1 NEWS

The village's assistant manager Rosalie Keegan said marking the day was "very very important" for the residents.

"Anzac means a lot to this age group," she said, adding that it was a "very different" way to mark the day but that the residents wanted to do something.

Your playlist will load after this ad

Ray Cranch’s routine was more than a bit upset by recent circumstances, although combatting a bit of adversity is nothing new to the 97-year-old.
Source: 1 NEWS

However, they had to balance this year's event with protecting the vulnerable group.

Only eight residents, some of which donned war medals, stood out the front of the village with resident John Wakelin reciting the poem In Flanders Fields.

Ms Keegan said residents silently walked out to the gate and kept their two metres distance. Other residents were shining lights from their balconies or windows.

Your playlist will load after this ad

The masterpiece took hours of crafting, but Sheryl Ertel says she hopes people will remember what sacrifice is.
Source: 1 NEWS

Cameras were only allowed to film from outside the village's gates and a nurse was also outside with the residents.

Ms Keegan said staff had "gone the extra mile" to support residents during the pandemic and lockdown.

Your playlist will load after this ad

The way the day has been commemorated in lockdown has received high praise from those who gave so much.
Source: 1 NEWS

The residents joined Kiwis from throughout the country commemorating Anzac Day from thier gates at 6am today.

Anzac Day services were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Please send landscape video of how you are commemorating Anzac Day to news@tvnz.co.nz